Carrying case for sewing machines



July 23, 1963 BQNO CARRYING CASE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Jan. 1'7, 1962 FIGA FIG.2

INVENTOH L1 1?! 80100 M M ATTORNEYS Patented July 23, 1963 3,098,315 CARRYING CASE FOR SEWING MACI-llNES Luigi Bonn, Pavia, Italy, assignor to Necchi Societa per Azioni, Pavia, Italy Filed Jan. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 166,751 Claims priority, application Italy Feb. 10, 1961 1 Claim. (Cl. 45--6$.2)

The present invention relates to novel and useful improvements in carrying cases for sewing machines and especially appertains to a new carrying case that protectively encloses the machine and has a handle means to which the weight of the machine is directly transferred.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a compact, foldable and lightweight case that can be manufactured from a material of extremely low tensile strength due to the fact that the handle means directly carries the weight of the machine with the case being free from the weight. This permits the case to be formed in a simple and inexpensive manner with the handle means being incorporated with the case and attached to the machine in a manner to directly support the weight of the machine while permitting the case to enclose the machine and protect it.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a carrying case that is formed in a manner to be placed over the machine without necessitating lifting of the machine, thus avoiding any strain on the part of the user.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a carrying case that does not require any attachment means to cooperate with companion attachment means on the machine and which has a handle means that can be easily and simply attached to the arm of the machine so as to directly support the weight of the machine.

These and ancillary objects and structural features of merit are attained by this invention, the preferred embodiment of which are set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the carrying case shown in attachment to a sewing machine;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the case;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the case to more clearly illustrate the handle means in association with the arm of the machine;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of la modified form of handle means for the carrying case; and,

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of the form of FIGURE 4.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing and initially to FIGURES 13, the carrying case 1 is formed from suitable flexible material, which may be of extremely low tensile strength, and is in the shape of a shell having an open bottom. The case is placed over the sewing machine 2 by moving the case down over the arm 3 of the machine until the entire machine is covered with the edge of the open bottom of the case reaching down to the bottom of the base 4 of the sewing machine. Thus, the machine is completely enclosed and covered except for the underside of the base 4 and the case is placed over the machine without requiring any lifting of the machine.

The case is formed at its opposing sides with reinforced horizontal slots -8 and 10 that are provided to receive the handle means which is directly attached to the arm 3 of the sewing machine. The handle means includes a strap 5 having a loop end 6 forming a handle. The strap 5 has an extension 9 on its other end which terminates in a loop 11 defining a handle that cooperates with the handle 6.

The strap 5 has a companion strap 12 which is secured thereto at its upperside and which is adapted to encircle the arm 3 of the machine. The strap 12 has free ends provided with cooperating snap fasteners 13 with the ends being adapted to overlie each other so that the fasteners can be engaged.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the handle 11 and the associated end of the securing strap 12 are projected through the slot 10 when the case is placed over the machine. Before the case is placed completely over the machine, the end 7 of the strap 5 is passed under the arm 3 of the machine and through the slot 8 thereby disposing the handle 6 on the outside of the case 1. This also places the end of the securing strap 12 through the slot 8 and outside of the case. The strap 12 is thus disposed in an encircling position around the arm 3 and the handles 6 and 11 are disposed in cooperating relation upstanding from the arm 3. The fasteners 13 of the overlapping ends of the strap 12 are fastened, thereby securing the strap 12 around the arm 3.

The handles 6 and 11 directly support the weight of the machine, in attachment to the arm 3 of the machine, while the case 1 completely encloses the machine from the underside of the bottom up.

It is to be noted that with the fasteners 13 secured together to fasten the strap 12 around the arm 3, the handles 1-1 and 6 cannot slip back inside the case but will project upwardly from the arm 3.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, the case 1a is formed in the same manner, as the case 1. The strap 5a has the handle 6a on its end 7a which handle passes through the slot 8a. The other end 9a of the strap 5a is extended through the slot 10a and terminates in sna fasteners 13a which cooperate with companion fasteners on the strap 5a. The outer end 9a of the strap has a slot 14 through which the handle is passed.

Thus, in attaching the handle means of FIGURES 4 and 5 to the arm 3, the handle 6a is passed under the arm and through the slot 8a before the case is completely placed over the machine. The handle 6a is then passed through the slot 14 and the snap fasteners 1311 are secured together so that the handle 6a upstands from the arm 3, as shown in FIGURE 5.

While the preferred forms of the present invention have been disclosed herein, it is obvious that variations may be made, for example, in the type of fasteners utilized, and therefore, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made as come within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

Container for a sewing machine having a base and an arm; said container comprising a housing of pliable material having an open bottom so that it can be placed in downward direction over the sewing machine, said housing having a slot, a strap adapted to support the weight of the machine fastened to the inside of the housing and having an extension to the outside of the housing, a handle provided at the end of the strap and adapted to pass below the arm of the machine, then from the inside to the outside of the housing through the said slot, cooperating means borne by the said extension which cooperate with said handle for lifting the machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,723,897 Stephenson Aug. 6, 1929 1,863,790 Hermani June 21, 1932 3,038,513 Hamlett June 12, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 471,696 France Nov. 6, 1914 168,521 Great Britain Sept. 8, 19-21 

